Leeds' greed pushed Smith

ALAN SMITH'S desire to join Manchester United hardened when boyhood idols Leeds started to push him through the Elland Road exit door before their disastrous season had even come to a close.

Most Leeds fans are still seething that a man they regarded as one of their own turned his back on the West Yorkshire outfit for their hated rivals when he completed his controversial £7million cross-Pennine switch last May.

Even Alex Ferguson admitted he had grave doubts as to whether he could lure the 23-year-old to Old Trafford given the bitter rivalry between the two clubs.